Microsoft Takes Aim At Web Site
Sale of FCC Licenses In Several States Nets Budget Pocket Change
Bookstore Survival Stunts Have Scant Literary Merit
Hollings Acts to Block Antitrust Nomination
Landmark Legislation Ushering In The Old World of Telecommunications
Hundt's Successor, New FCC Commissioners Will Face Thicket of Regulatory,
Political Battles
Prospective Successors to Chairman Hundt May Face "Mexican Standoff" of
Presidential Politics
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Title: Microsoft Takes Aim At Web Site
Source: New York Times (D8)
Author: Andrew Ross Sorkin
Issue: Internet
Description: A college student bought more than a dozen Internet domain
names related to Microsoft products. Currently he's running his business
through the wesite address . Microsoft plans to
prevent him from using the domain names and his Internet Service Provider
has shut down his account. "We don't need the extra headaches," a US
Internet rep said.
Title: Sale of FCC Licenses In Several States Nets Budget Pocket Change
Source: Wall Street Journal (A1)
Author: Bryan Gruley
Issue: Spectrum
Description: Some chunks of spectrum are going for under $5 dollars at FCC
auctions. Cellular companies complain that the market is flooded and the
cheap auction prices are devaluing their licenses. Sen. McCain and other
lawmakers want the FCC to establish minimum bids so the licenses won't go so
cheap. Reed Hundt, on the other hand, says that the cheap licenses will
encourage more firms to buy them and provide services in smaller geographic
areas.
Title: Bookstore Survival Stunts Have Scant Literary Merit
Source: Wall Street Journal (B1)
Author: Barbara Carton
Issue: Publishing
Description: Independent book stores are working hard to hold onto
customers. Barron's, an independent bookstore in Texas, has started selling
department store like items and dinners to compete against the big chain
bookstores. A children's book store in Minneapolis now has a rat
colony residing under its glass floor. Total retail volume in book sales
rose last
year, but independents' slice of sales dropped.
Title: Networks Split Over TV Ratings
Source: Washington Post (A1)
Author: Paul Farhi
Issue: V-Chip
Description: Fox and a few other broadcast and cable networks have decided
to use content ratings for their shows. Fox will use S, V, L, T ratings to
indicate high quantities of sex, violence, language, and tofu in a show.
Ted Turner and ABC may also start using content ratings.
Title: Hollings Acts to Block Antitrust Nomination
Source: Washington Post (A1)
Author: Mike Mills
Issue: Mergers
Description: Senator Ernest F. Hollings (D-SC) has placed a hold on the
nomination of Joel Klein as the chief antitrust enforcer at the Department
of Justice. Hollings is concerned that Klein will not do enough to "ensure
competition in the telecommunications industry" in decisions about telecom
mergers. Klein recently had to answer concerns of Sen. Conrad Burns (R-Mont)
that he would try to regulate phone companies too much.
Title: Landmark Legislation Ushering In The Old World of Telecommunications
Source: Washington Post (C3)
Author: Allan Sloan
Issue: Telecom Act
Description: The revolutionary Telecommunications Act of 1996 -- which
promised a new era of lean and hungry companies -- simply brought us right
back to where we started -- a world of mega-companies. From seven Baby
Bells, we now have five. Bell Atlantic bought Nynex. SBC just bought
Pac-Tel. And AT&T may merge with SBC -- or leaks of those merger discussions
may be a gimmick to help AT&T purchase GTE.
Title: Hundt's Successor, New FCC Commissioners Will Face Thicket of
Regulatory,
Political Battles
Source: Telecommunications Reports (p.24)
Issue: FCC
Description: The new FCC commissioners will face thorny issues in 1998
including telephone number portability and a new wire-tap law. Also, the
regulatory "trilogy" of pro-competitive rulemakings implementing the Telecom
Act of '96 -- interconnection, universal service, and access charges -- will
probably be revisited.
Title: Prospective Successors to Chairman Hundt May Face "Mexican Standoff"
of Presidential
Politics
Source: Telecommunications Reports (p.26)
Issue: FCC
Description: Senate presidential hopefuls may muddy the confirmation process
for FCC nominees. Sen. Ernest Hollings (D-SC) is backing former aid Ralph
Everett. Senators Byron Dorgan (D-ND), Robert Kerry (D-NE), and Thomas
Daschle (D-SD) have sent President Clinton a letter asking the Commission
have a "rural voice" and seem to be backing former Sen James Exon (D-NE) aid
Christopher MacLean. But MacLean was the main staffer behind the
Communications Decency Act, so the computer industry may oppose his
nomination. Vice President Gore's office will probably handle the
nominations which gives an inside track to White House policy advisor
Kathleen Wallman who has been endorsed by the Organization for the Promotion
and Advancement of Small Telecommunications Companies. This standoff may
delay Senate action on White House nominations until next year.
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